... LP, Vinyl record album

A rare solo outing from vocalist Maria Cole – quite possibly because she was best known to the rest of the world as Mrs Nat King Cole! Maria's a dusky-voiced singer who worked with Duke Ellington in the 50s, but is getting a much sweeter touch here from arranger Billy Vaughn – who uses additional backing vocals next to Cole on the record, in that singer-meets-chorus style that was fading at the time, but still done by Vaughn better than most of his peers. The approach is fine, although it does overshadow Cole's unusual vocal style a bit – but given the strange and moody feel of her voice, the added singers actually create this odd sense of counterpoint that's pretty unique, and which makes the record stand out from most of the other work on Dot at the time. Titles include "My Heart Cries For You", "Fools Rush In", "I Get The Blues When It Rains", "I Get So Lonely", "You're Not Alone", and "My Personal Possession". CD

With Cedar Walton on piano, Billy Higgins on drums, and Ray Brown on bass – plus some guitar from John Collins and Vaughn Andre. LP, Vinyl record album

The lovely Dianne Reeves pays tribute to jazz legend Sarah Vaughn, in a set that's one of her straightest jazz outings to date! The album features arrangements by Billy Childs, who plays on the album, along with Mulgrew Miller, Clark Terry, Reginald Veal, and Steve Wilson. Tracks include the sweet original "I Remember Sarah", plus "A Chamada", "Key Largo", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Speak Low", "Obsession", and "Fascinating Rhythm". CD

Wax Poetics is closing in on 10 years in its unrivaled coverage of classic and rare soul, jazz, hip hop and all things funky – delivering big once again with Issue #48! Nina Simone is on the front cover – with a really great feature that focuses on the unfiltered realness, honesty and blunt social awareness at the core of her life and so many of her best recordings – with artful newcomer Theophilus London on the backover. Issue #48 also has pieces on Count C, Neu!, Dom Salvador, Shock G, Yabby You, Billy Cox, Gil-Scott Heron In Memorium, Re:Discovery of treasured records by Swamp Dogg, Sarah Vaughn and Odyssey, and much more! Magazine

Includes music from James Cotton, William Clarke, Maurice John Vaughn, Kenny Neal, Koko Taylor, Billy Boy Arnold, Sugar Blue, Dave Hole, and more. CD